PhD in Global Environmental Studies (International Environmental Management Program)

Tuition fees are 3,372 USD per year.

Kyoto University's International Environmental Management Program offers a doctoral track in Global Environmental Studies, a three-year course taught in English with entry points in April and October. Founded in June of 1897, Kyoto University has built a long history in the historic city of Kyoto, a center of traditional Japanese culture, and as of May 1, 2025 comprised 10 faculties, 18 graduate schools, 12 research institutes, and 26 educational institutes and other establishments, with roughly 3,000 of its 22,300 students coming from overseas across about 110 countries and regions. Global environmental studies examines environmental issues at an international scale, including climate change, biodiversity loss, transboundary pollution, and the governance structures that coordinate responses across countries. Doctoral research in this field typically draws on environmental science, international policy analysis, economics, and social science methods to study how global environmental challenges are measured, negotiated, and addressed. Candidates design an original research project under faculty supervision, working toward a dissertation that examines a specific dimension of global environmental change or governance. Doctoral graduates in global environmental studies commonly pursue careers with international organizations, multilateral environmental agencies, research institutions, and government bodies working on climate and environmental diplomacy. Three years of doctoral study allow time to develop specialized expertise in a global environmental issue, conduct original research, and build the analytical and policy skills needed for senior roles in international environmental governance. Studying within Kyoto University's graduate school system situates this research within a university with a long history of scientific and policy scholarship, alongside access to established faculty expertise and research infrastructure.